Babysitters Resume

10 Things to Look For On a Babysitter’s Resume

Hiring a babysitter can be an intimidating task, especially if you don’t have much experience with conducting interviews. Upon receiving a resume, there are some key words and phrases to look for before scheduling an interview; these are some of the basic things to look for.

CPR Certification – You’ll want to be sure that any potential babysitter has taken the time to obtain CPR Certification before considering them.

First Aid Training – Most accidents happen in the home, so it’s a good idea to make sure that any caregiver you hire has a basic knowledge of first aid.

References – If you’re considering a teenager with limited work experience, character references can be helpful when making your decision. For sitters with more work experience, calling references can be a good way to weed out undesirable candidates before interviewing them.

Experience – A sitter with little to no working experience should have younger siblings or other family members that they’ve cared for or volunteer experience related to childcare. Someone completely inexperienced with children can easily become overwhelmed by the demands of caring for a child.

Specialized Training Courses – Any babysitting or other childcare related classes or courses are a major plus. These demonstrate a specific interest in the care of children.

Creative Skills – Someone with artistic or creative skills is more likely to be able to keep your children entertained with projects or arts and crafts.

Availability – If you’ll mostly need a babysitter on weekday mornings, a high school student may not be the right fit for your family. Checking a sitter’s availability against your schedule can narrow the flood of candidates, making the process go much quicker.

Positive Language and Wording – Pay attention to the wording used on the resume. Positive language like “I cared for the delightful Jones children for two years,” instead of “Spent two years working for the Jones family” can be a good indicator of character and enthusiasm.

Level of Education – If you have older children that may need homework help, you’ll definitely want to look at a sitter’s education level.

Hobbies – Hobbies and favorite pastimes are another good way to get an idea of a sitter’s personality before the interview. Be on the lookout for hobbies related to the arts, literature or music; these candidates might be best suited for the unpredictable nature of children and have ideas for keeping them occupied in your absence.

In the interest of brevity, some sitters may limit the information they include. If you find one that sticks out but is lacking a key point or two, it might be a good idea to set up an initial phone interview. Because a phone interview is less formal and perhaps less nerve-wracking, your candidate may be more relaxed and find it easier to speak plainly. You may find that they actually have the experience or skills that you’re looking for, but simply did not include them on their resume.